Cargo securement, cargo shift stop

ABSTRACT

A pallet or piece of freight on a surface such as the floor of a dry van or flat bed trailer, will shift or move while in transit. The cargo shift stops will prevent the movement of the pallet or freight much like a door stop that holds open an opened door.

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to moving freight by all modes of transportation.This invention will prevent movement or shifting of freight or cargo, inor on a vessel, while in transit, and thus prevent damage to the freightand equipment being used to move the freight from one point to another.

II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since freight has been moved by containers in trucks, trains, boats andaircraft, there has been a problem of freight moving or shifting whilethe freight is in transport. This movement is due to the surface onwhich the freight is being transported on, in combination with themovement of the vehicle in which the freight is being transported. Withthe stopping, starting, turning, and yawing of the vehicle, the freightbeing transported will slide or tip when a change in direction of thevehicle takes place.

Depending on the severity of the event, this dynamic will cause thefreight to come in contact with other freight on the same vessel, orwith the waklls of the container, or will cause the freight to leave thevessel. This constitutes a great danger to people and equipment in it'sproximity.

Current methods of restraint for cargo require the use of straps to holdthe cargo into place, or blocking material nailed to the floor to stopthe pallet or piece of freight from moving. Other forms of restraintinclude the placement of horizontal retaining bars from one side of thetrailer to the other that prevents the forward movement of the freight.This movement can damage the flooring of freight vessel over time

III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A: Objects of the Invention

One object of this invention is to limit the travel of freight or cargoto a point where it does not move beyond specified points. The willprevent damage to the freight when it comes into contact with otherfreight on the floor or platform on which it is transported.

Another object of the invention is to prevent a catastrophic outcome ofheavy freight shifting on the floor or platform. Whether this be overthe road transport or air transport, these extreme weight shifts cancause the operator to loose control of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the overloading of an axleof a dry van or flat bed trailer. State and Federal laws allow certainmaximum weights on the axles of these trailers which can be exceededwhen the cargo shifts forward due to a hard braking event.

Another object of the invention is to substantially reduce the amount oflabor required to utilize existing methods cargo restraint. Thisincludes the nailing or blocking of wood or other material to the flooror platform.

Another object of this invention is to reduce or eliminate the need tocarry or stock materials and supplies to secure the cargo.

B. Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment this invention may be installed in the floor of acargo vessel, such as a dry van or flat bed trailer pulled by a semitruck. When installed in the floor of trailer, be it metal or wood, itmay be a retractable, floor protruding assembly, when installed as asystem, will stop the movement of the freight as it tries to move acrossthe floor of the cargo vessel. When not needed, the plunger or theentire device may be retracted and secured inside the floor.

This invention is not limited to the installation in a dry van or flatbed trailer. Other application areas include rail cars, cargo ships,airplanes, cargo transport platforms, and barges. This device will workon any surface upon which it can be installed.

This device can also be used on surfaces that are not part of a cargovessel. This device can be installed on any surface in which movementfrom some outside force is not desired. This includes warehousebuildings, floors, and dock areas.

Other objects will be apparent from the following SUMMARY, DESCRIPTIONOF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS, DRAWINGS AND CLAIMS.

B: Summary

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a collar or plungeris recessed into an existing floor or platform. The collar or plungerversion can be installed as new equipment, or be retrofitted to olderfloors and platforms.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the plunger ispart of a strip of metal or composite material recessed into theflooring material. It can be installed as new OEM equipment or can beretrofitted to older floors or platforms.

IV THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the device from the top.

FIG. 2 is a schmatic side elevation view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the invention mounted inthe flooring of a typical flatbed or dry van trailer in extemdedvertical position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view as it appears in FIG. 3, butshowing the invention in the recessed position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing some examples of workabledimensions for the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view of how the plunger can be locked intoa recessed position, showing the collar from the bottom.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevation view showing keyed slots in theside of the collar in relation to the keys in the side of the plunger.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the keys on the side of theplunger, showing the keys as they appears on the side of the plunger.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of an alternative to the keyed slotversion of the invention, and shows the device without the keyed slotsin the side of the collar and the key on the side of the plunger.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view showing another version of the devicewhich shows the device mounted in a strip of material (such as steel orcomposite material) that will produce the same advantages as beingrecessed into the flooring material.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the top of the stop strip version.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of another stop strip version of theinvention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the stop strip with possible hole locations.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of one of the holes in the stop strip, showingthe placement of machined keys slots from the top.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side elevation of the side of the stop stripshowing the placement of the machined keyed slots on the side of eachhole.

FIG. 16 is a schematic side elevation view of another embodiment of theinvention in which a sliding strip is positioned inside the stop strip,under the plungers, and illustrating how the sliding strip can moveforward and backward, activating and deactivating each of the plungersin the stop strip.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view which shows the stop strips installedbetween the floorboards in a typical dry van trailer.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a typical dry van trailer or a platform,illustrating the device recessed into the floor or platform.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating the same stops as in FIG. 18recessed into the flooring material, with the cross members transverselymounted in a manner that many, if not most, typical dry van trailers arepresently rconstructed.

FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating stops recessed into the flooringmaterial, with the cross members transversely mounted.

FIG. 21 is a plan view which shows a pallet or cargo piece placeddirectly on the floor.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing the directions of travel that a pallet orpiece of cargo can take when in transit.

FIG. 23 is a schematic side elevation view of another embodiment of theinvention showing the construction of a typical van trailer.

V DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the outside collar 5, the inside plunger 10, and the screwholes 15 located in the collar to secure the stop to a structuralsupport. This figure also shows the slot 20 in the top of the plunger 10that is used to rotate the plunger 10 clockwise or counter clockwise tolock the plunger 10 into an active or inactive position. As analternative to this structure, the device can be made without the screwholes 15 in the collar 5. This device may be inserted directly into thehole in the floor surface if desired. FIG. 2 shows a side view of thisembodiment. This view shows the plunger 10 in its extended position witha spring 25 recessed into the bottom of center plunger 10.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention mounted in the flooring30 of a typical flatbed or dry van trailer in its fully extended oractive position. This cross sectional view shows this embodiment mountedon top of one of the cross members 35. FIG. 4 shows this embiodiment asit appears in FIG. 3, but shows this embodiment in the recessedposition. FIG. 5 shows some possible dimensions for this embodiment.These dimensions are given as examples and may be reduced or increaseddepending on the particular application in which this embodiment will beused.

Several factors come into play when the size of a particular embodimentis determined. The material used to produce the embodiment may be steel,aluminum alloy or any of the known composite materials. The size of theembodiment will depend highly on the strength of the material used andor the application in which it is used.

FIGS. 4-8 demonstrate how the plunger 10 in FIG. 4, can be locked into arecessed position. FIG. 7 shows the collar 5 from the side. This figureshows two keyed slots 40, 45 on the inside of the collar 5. These slots40, 45 are for the key 50 a that is on the side of the plunger 10 to fitinto. When the plunger 10 is pushed downward and turned, the key 50 inthe side of the plunger 10 will fit into the secondary keyed slot 45,FIG. 7. This will lock the plunger 10 into the recessed position.

When the plunger 10 is rotated in the opposite direction, the key 50 onthe side of the plunger 10 will move into the primary keyed slot 40 inthe side of the collar 5 and will lock in the active position shown inFIG. 7, which shows the device in the active position, and shows thekeyed slots 40, 45 in the side of the collar 5 in relation to the key 50in the side of the plunger 10. It also shows additional space machinedinto the side of the collar 5 to allow a fuller rotation to furtherprevent the plunger 10 from rotating out of the locked position.

FIG. 8 gives a more detailed view of the key 50 on the side of theplunger 10. This figure shows the key 50 as it appears on the side ofthe plunger 10. The size of the plunger 10, and the size of the key 50on the side of the plunger 10 depend on the material used to constructthe device.

FIG. 9 is an alternative to the keyed slot embodiment of the invention.This version can be used when an active version of the device isdesired. In this figure is the tapered bottom 11 t of the plunger 11.This tapered effect on the bottom of the plunger 11 will stop theplunger 11 at a pre-determined height.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the device. Up until this point, theassumption has been made that the device or invention will be recesseddirectly into the flooring material such as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

In FIG. 10 the device 10 is mounted in a strip 100 of solid material(steel or composite) that will produce most if not all of the advantagesas being recessed into the flooring material. The device 10 is mountedin the strip 100 itself. On a typical dry van trailer, or other floor,the floorboards are continuous from the front to the rear, or arelongitudinal from the front to the rear. If floorboards are used, theyare typically laid side by side next to each over the cross-members ofthe floor.

They are then secured to the trailer or frame of the trailer in a wayengineered for that particular trailer or flooring platform. Forexample, the stop strips 100 are set longitudinally or parallel to thefloorboards and secured into place. This version allows for ease ofreplacement of the stop strips or removal of the device if they are nolonger needed in the application. FIG. 11 shows the device from the top.It shows how that device 10 is recessed at 5 into the stop strip 100.The strip 100 is then secured to the cross members 35 under the floor 30or to the flooring material itself. The stop strip 100 can be of anylength depending on the application.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment the collarportion 5 of the device FIG. 11 is replaced by the stop strip 100itself. In this embodiment, the stop strip 200 is machined, casted, ormanufactured with the keyed slots 40, 45, FIG. 14 in the wall of thehole manufactured into the stop strip 200. In one embodiment of thedevice, the user may select the plunger 10/collar 5 version shown inFIG. 10 secured in the stop strip, so as to change one plunger 10/collar5 device at a time. In another embodiment, the user may select theplunger 10/stop strip 200 version shown in FIG. 12 and change the stopstrip 200 when desired.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment in which the stop strip 200 with thehole 202 in it. The keyed slots are not shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is abottom detail view of the hole in the stop strip 200. This bottom viewshows the keyed slots 40, 45 machined into the side of the hole in thestop strip 200. In this application, the plunger is inserted from thebottom of the stop strip 200. The stop strip 200 with the plunger 10inserted, is then installed into the specific application. FIG. 15 is aside view of the stop strip 200 which shows the machined slots 40, 45 inthe side of the hole in the stop strip 200. Note that in this embodimentthe plunger 10 is not inserted into the hole 202.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodimentversion, the spring 25, FIG. 9 is replaced with a sliding stop strip250. As this sliding stop strip 250 is moved forward or backward, thetabs 252 on the stop strip 250 activate and deactivate the plunger 12into active 254 and passive positions 256. The sliding stop strip 250 ismade of very lightweight metal or composite material and is durableenough to last the normal life of the transport vessel. The sides 150and bottom 152 of this version of the stop strip are made of a verylightweight metal or composite material. The top of the stop strip 154is made of a heavy metal or composite to withstand the pressure offreight against the plunger 12.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 17 the stop strips 100, 200, or250?? installed between the floorboards 255 in a typical dry vantrailer. This figure shows the stop strips 100 or 200 installed betweentwo floorboards.

However, in another embodiment 280 the stop strips 100 and/or 200 areinstalled between all of the floorboards to produce a better effect.FIG. 18 is of a typical dry van trailer or platform. On a typical dryvan trailer or a platform, this figure shows the collar 5/plunger 10version 280 recessed into the floor or platform. The location of thestops in the trailer is determined by the application needed and can beplaced anywhere on the floor.

In another embodiment 290, FIG. 19 shows the same collar 5/plunger 10version recessed into the flooring material as FIG. 18 shows. However,this figure shows the cross members 35 under the floorboards 30 of atypical dry van trailer. In this embodiment, the stops 292 are mountedin the floorboards 30 and on top of the cross members 35. The stops 292are mounted on top of a cross members 35 so as to allow the spring 25 onthe bottom of the plunger 10 to come in contact with a surface. Thissurface allows the spring 25 to active the plunger 10.

FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating stops recessed into the flooringmaterial, with the cross members transversely mounted In anotherembodiment 300, FIG. 20 shows that on some dry van trailers orplatforms, the cross members 335 may be installed longitudinally fromthe front to the rear of the trailer. On some dry van trailers orplatforms, the cross members may be installed longitudinally from thefront to the rear of the trailer In this figure, it shows the crossmembers 35 installed in this way. Here again, the collar 5/plunger 10version or stop strip 100, 200, or 150 can be recessed into the flooringmaterial 30 and on top of the cross members 35.

In another embodiment FIG. 21 illustrates the benefits of thisinvention. In FIG. 21 a pallet 300 or piece of cargo placed directly onthe floor. If a shifting event occurs, the bottom edge of the pallet 300or piece of cargo will come in contact with the stops 302 in the floorand prevent the movement of the object. FIG. 22 shows the direction oftravel that a pallet 300 or piece of cargo can take when in transit. Asnoted, the direction of travel can be in any direction.

In another embodiment FIG. 23 shows an example of the construction of atypical dry van trailer. This figure shows how the van trailer isconstructed. The cross members 35 under the flooring material 30 aresecured to “posts” 310 on the bottom rail 320, which are secured to a“top rail” 330 at the top of the trailer. This suspended effect is notclearly shown and at least one additional view is required. how atypical dry van trailer is constructed. Other platforms may have anactual frame under the cross members 35 that is used to support thefloor of the dry van trailer or platform.

1. A cargo shift stop assembly comprising: a stop having an outsidecollar; a plunger located inside said collar; and fastening meanslocated in said collar to secure the stop to a structural support.
 2. Acargo shift stop assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fasteningmeans comprise screw holes.
 3. A cargo shift stop assembly according toclaim 1 wherein slots in the top of the plunger are used to rotate saidplunger.
 4. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 1 whereinsaid device is made without screw holes in said collar.
 5. A cargo shiftstop assembly according to claim 1 wherein said device is adapted to beinserted directly into a hole in the floor surface.
 6. A cargo shiftstop assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one spring isrecessed into the bottom of said plunger.
 7. A cargo shift stop assemblyaccording to claim 6 wherein said spring is mounted in the flooring of atypical flatbed or dry van trailer
 8. A cargo shift stop assemblyaccording to claim 7 wherein said spring is mounted on top of one of thecross members in siad flatbed or dry van trailer.
 9. A cargo shift stopassembly according to claim 8 wherein at least one key slot is providedin said collar.
 10. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 9wherein a pair of key slots are provided in said collar for a pair ofcooperating keys.
 11. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 1wherein a tapered bottom is provided in said plunger.
 12. A cargo shiftstop assembly according to claim 11 wherein said tapered bottom inoperation stops said plunger at a pre-determined height.
 13. A cargoshift stop assembly comprising: a plurality of cargo shift stops mountedin a strip of solid material adapted to be recessed into a preexistingfloor.
 14. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 11 whereinsaid strip is made of a material selected from steel, aliminum alloy,and composite material and combinations thereof.
 15. A cargo shift stopassembly according to claim 14 wherein said strips are mounted in atransportation vehicle.
 16. A cargo shift stop assembly according toclaim 15 wherein said strips are mounted continuous from the front tothe rear,
 17. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 15 whereinsaid strips are mounted continuous longitudinally from the front to therear,
 18. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 15 wherein saidstrips are mounted continuous transversely from the front to the rear.typical dry van trailer, or other floor, the floorboards are continuousfrom the front to the rear, or are longitudinal from the front to therear.
 19. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 15 wherein saidstrips are laid side by side next to each over cross-members of thefloor.
 20. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 15 whereinsaid strips are laid in a way engineered for that particular trailer orflooring platform.
 21. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 20wherein said strips are laid longitudinally or parallel to thefloorboards and secured into place.
 22. A cargo shift stop assemblyaccording to claim 21 wherein said strips recessed into said stop strip.23. A cargo shift stop assembly according to claim 22 wherein saidstrips are formed with keyed slots in the wall of the hole the stopstrip.
 24. A cargo shift assembly comprising: a sliding stop striphaving tabs on said sliding strip; whereby as said sliding stop strip ismoved forward or backward, said tabs on said stop strip activate anddeactivate a plunger into active and passive positions.
 25. A cargoshift stop assembly according to claim 24 wherein said sliding stopstrip is made of a material selected from lightweight metal andcomposite material and is
 26. A cargo shift stop assembly according toclaim 25 wherein said sliding stop strip material is durable enough tolast the normal life of the transport vessel.